Supermarket, Grocery, & C-Store
• Casey’s General Stores Inc. has acquired five DeliMart convenience stores in the Iowa City, IA, area.
• Choice Market has hired Amanda Dentici as COO, Merlin Verrier as Senior Director of Culinary Operations, Dennis Apreza as Senior Director of Retail Operations, and Peter Haslam as Controller.
• Foxtrot Ventures Inc. has promoted Liz Williams as its new CEO. The company’s co-founder Mike LaVitola has been promoted to Chairman.
• McKesson Corp. reported Eyad Farah President, Pharmacy and Healthcare, has left the company.
• Petro Serve USA has completed its acquisition of three convenience stores in southeastern North Dakota from CHS Inc.
• Super Center Concepts Inc. announced the promotion of Miguel Alarcon to Senior VP of Operations. It also has hired Tom Finn as Senior VP of Marketing and Merchandising.
• Weis Markets Inc. has announced the promotion of Alison Gregas to Director of Private Brands.
Retail
• Beacon Roofing Supply Inc. announced that it has acquired Al’s Roofing Supply, Inc. of Hayward, CA, and Prince Building Systems, LLC of Neillsville, WI.
• Bealls Inc. reported it is rebranding its Bealls Outlet and Burkes Outlet locations to “bealls”. All stores will be rebranded with new signage by the end of the year.
• Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. has appointed Julia Fitzgerald as its new Chief Marketing Officer.
• Do it Best Corp. announced it has hired Scott Becher and Troy Guthmiller as new Territory Sales Managers.
• Kirkland’s Inc. said that President and CEO Steven Woodward will retire, effective May 31. Ann Joyce will serve as Interim CEO until a successor is named. The retailer also announced that Amy Sullivan has been promoted to the role of President and COO.
• Nation’s Best Holdings LLC announced the acquisition of Patrick Building Supply LLC in Stuart, VA, and Mountain View Home & Hardware in King, NC.
• True Religion Apparel Inc. reported it plans to open its first store in China in 2024.
• United Hardware Distributing Co. announced that Chad Ruth has been named as President and CEO.
• Walmart Stores Inc. reported it will close 15 underperforming stores this year in AR, DC, GA, HI, FL, IL, IN, MN, NM, OR, TX, WA, and WI.
Restaurant
• Chipotle filed a lawsuit against Sweetgreen for trademark violation earlier this week. The two sides have reached a tentative agreement to resolve the issue and the lawsuit has been dropped. The issue centered around Sweetgreen’s Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl which is similar to Chipotle’s Chicken Burrito Bowl. Chipotle also argued that the marketing materials of the item included a red font that was similar to their trademarked color. Sweetgreen has agreed to rename the bowl.
• Dine Brands has named Sarah Cannon-Foster Chief People Officer.
• McDonald’s temporarily closed their corporate offices in order to inform corporate employees about layoffs during the company’s restructuring.
• SPB Hospitality has named Ryan Russell Director of Communications and Marketing.
• Twin Peaks is opening a new location in Columbus, OH.
• YUM! Brands Inc. has partnered with investment firm Lafayette Square to make $50 million available to underrepresented franchisees as part of their new financing program called Franchise Fast Start.
